Toothbrush container



Sept. 21, 1965 R. A. GOODALL TOOTHBRUSH CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 23, 1963 INVENTOR Eeewmu: A. G' o A -L- BY )zmM ADM-6.4m

P 1955 R. A. GOODALL 3,207,296

OOTHBRUSH CONTAINER Filed July 23, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 INVENTOR EQINALD A.G'c:o1 m

United States Patent 3,207,296 TOOTHBRUSH CONTAINER Reginald A. Goodall, 8687 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 4, Beverly Hills, Calif. Filed July 23, 1963, Ser. No. 297,056 Claims. (Cl. 206-151) This invention relates to toothbrush containers, and, in particular, to a self-sterilizing toothbrush container.

An object of the invention is the provision, in a toothbrush container, of a plug for closing the open end thereof, which carries a replaceable annular germicidal pellet.

These and other objects, which will be apparent, are attained by the present invention, a preferred form of which is described in the following specification, as illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of one form of toothbrush container of the invention, with its hinged cover open,

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, showing the parts assembled, and showing, in phantom lines, a toothbrush within the container,

FIGURE 3 is an axial, sectional view through the container, taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view through the container, taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is a transverse, sectional view through the container, taken on the plane of the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 3,

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the pellet and its holder, in association with a container different in form from that of FIGURES 1-5, showing the cover open, and the pellet in spaced relation to its holder,

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6, showing the container cover closed,

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal, sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 8--8 of FIGURE 7, and showing a toothbrush therein,

FIGURE 9 is a vertical, sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8, and

FIGURE 10 is a transverse, sectional view through the container, taken on the plane of the line 10-10 of FIGURE 9.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference there is shown in FIGURES 1-5, one form of toothbrush container comprising an elongated tubular portion 10, of cylindrical cross section, having at one end, a lateral extension 12 of oval cross section. The container may be made of several modern, plastic materials, or of aluminum, stainless steel, or other suitable material. A pan-shaped cover 14 of the same cross-sectional size and shape as head 12, is hingedly mounted on one end of the head by means of a hinge 16, and a close and secure fit between the two is attained by a reduced neck portion 18 on the outer end of the head, mating with an inner, rabbeted shoulder 20 at the lower edge of cover 14. To provide for air circulation through the container, the extended wall of the head 12 is provided with a series of slots 22, semicircular in extent, located in planes perpendicular to the axis of the container.

As seen in FIGURE 3, the shape and size of the tubular portion 10 is such that the handle 23 of a toothbrush is accommodated therein, with the bristle-holding portion 24, with its bristles 26 accommodated in the head 12. As thus housed, the bristles are closely adjacent the slots 22, and the air in the region of the slots 22 is constrained into close association with the bristles, and this effect is heightened by the fact that an airstream passing through the tubular portion 10 must make a 90 3,207,296 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 turn, in the region of the bristles, in order to reach the slots 22.

A cap 28 (FIG. 1), comprises an outer disc 30, having a central bore 32, and is peripherally knurled, as indicated at 34, for finger purchase, to apply torque. A reduced diameter cylindrical, tubular skirt 36, integral with, and rising from, disc 30, is adapted for a frictional fit in the lower end of tubular portion 10. Also integral with, and rising from the disc 30, at opposite sides of bore 32, is a pair of diametrically oppositely disposed, semicylindrical fingers 38, which define, with skirt 36, an annular germicidal space, for reception of an annular tablet 40, formed with a central opening 42, and formed of, Thymol, Chlorothymol, or Hexachlorophene. These substances are soluble in about 1,000 parts of water, and somewhat more soluble in alcohol. These chemicals would comprise about half of a two-gram tablet, the remainder being diluents, excipients and binders necessary to regulate the breakdown of the tablet.

The annular form of tablet 40 succeeds in the attainment of at least two advantages, in that the central opening provides additional surface for sublimation over that afforded by a solid disc, and also provides a substantially constant surface in that, as the outer diameter diminishes, the inner diameter increases at a comparable rate. Furthermore, the introduction of air through the restricted opening of the tablet is accompanied by a venturi action as the airstream expands into the container, above the tablet, after the manner of the formation of smoke rings, which retards the air mass and results in pulses which pervade the zone of the pellet and render more complete action on its surface. This improved pickup, coupled with the intimate co-mingling with the bristles, mentioned above, results in highly efl icient scavenging, and thorough germicidal action.

In addition to all of the foregoing, the use of an annular pellet, sealed in an annular channel, guarantees a retention of the pellet, during its life, in a position favorably related to the entrance opening for the air.

Generally speaking, the current of air through the container will be brought about by thermal convection, slow in action and therefore efficient, and which is compatible with the relatively long periods between uses, with resultant economies.

The aforementioned merits of the invention are also achieved in connection with other forms of container, such as that shown in FIGURES 6 to 10, for instance, which is more adapted for carrying in luggage, or in a garment pocket. In this embodiment, the container is in the form of an elongate, rectangular box 44, with bottom 46, long sides 48, small ends 50, and a cover 52, secured to one of the long sides 48 by hinges 54. Each end 50 is provided at its top edge with a centrally located slot 56, of suitable size and shape, such as the trapezoidal form shown, and near one end, the box bottom has an integral, upstanding wall 58, spaced a sufiicient distance from said end to accommodate the bristle portion of a toothbrush, the wall also being integral with the front face of the box, and with its inner edge slightly spaced from the rear wall of the box, as at 60, to accommodate the handle of the brush, which is laid sidewise in the box.

Also upstanding from bottom 46 is an annular wall 62, corresponding to skirt 36 of the FIGURE 1 modification, in that it receives the pellet 40, and the inner, upstanding cylindrical segments 64, receiving the central opening of the pellet, are similar in form and function to segments 38 of the FIGURE 1 form.

Although not possessed of all of the advantages enumerated in connection with the FIGURE 1 modification, the form of FIGURES 6-l0 nevertheless retains the more important of these, such as relate, for instance to the form of the pellet, and to some extent, that of its holder. However, it will be understood that even in this case the entrance opening for the air may be so located as to pass through the pellet. In the form as shown, there is some beneficial turbulence introduced into the airstream, by the baflle effect of the wall 58, which also defines the germicidal chamber.

While a certain, preferred embodiment has been shown and described, various modifications will be apparent, in the light of this disclosure, and the invention should not, therefore, be deemed as limited, except insofar as shall appear from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A self-sterilizing toothbrush container comprising a tubular portion, one side of the sidewall at one end of said tubular portion being laterally outwardly offset relative to the tubular portion so as to define a head wider than the tubular portion, said tubular portion being of a diameter to accommodate the handle of a toothbrush and said head being of an enlarged cross-section for accommodating the bristle-equipped head of a toothbrush, the sidewall of said head remote from the tubular portion being formed with slot means extending therearound, an openable cover telescoped on said head, apertured closure means on the other end of the tubular portion, and an annular germicidal tablet axially secured to the closure means and exposed within the tubular portion, the opening of the tablet being registered with the aperture of the closure means.

2. A self-sterilizing toothbrush container comprising a tubular portion, one side of the sidewall at one end of said tubular portion being laterally outwardly offset relative to the tubular portion so as to define a head wider than the tubular portion, said tubular portion being of a diameter to accommodate the handle of a toothbrush and said head being of an enlarged cross-section for accommodating the bristle-equipped head of a toothbrush, the sidewall of said head remote from the tubular portion being formed with slot means extending therearound, an openable cover telescoped on said head, and closure means on the other end of the tubular portion, and com prising a disc larger in diameter than said tubular portion, a reduced diameter cylindrical skirt fixed to the disc and frictionally engaged in said other end of the tubular portion, said disc having a central opening ex tending therethrough, and an annular germicidal tablet engaged in said skirt with its opening registered with the opening of the disc.

3. A self-sterilizing toothbrush container comprising a tubular portion, one side of the sidewall at one end of said tubular portion being laterally outwardly offset relative to the tubular portion so as to define a head wider than the tubular portion, said tubular portion being of a diameter to accommodate the handle of a toothbrush and said head being of an enlarged cross-section for accommodating the bristle-equipped head of a toothbrush, the sidewall of said head remote from the tubular portion being formed with slot means extending therearound, an openable cover telescoped on said head, and closure means on the other end of the tubular portion and comprising a disc larger in diameter than said tubular portion, a reduced diameter cylindrical skirt fixed to the disc and frictionally engaged in said other end of the tubular portion, said disc having a central opening extending therethrough, and an annular germicidal tablet engaged in said skirt with its opening registered with the opening of the disc, a pair of diametrically opposed semi-cylindrical fingers fixed to the disc at opposite sides of the opening of the disc, said fingers and said skirt defining an annular seat for the germicidal tablet.

4. A self-sterilizing toothbrush container comprising a tubular portion, one side of the sidewall at one em of said tubular portion being laterally outwardly ofi'se relative to the tubular portion so as to define a head wider than the tubular portion, said tubular portion being 01 a diameter to accommodate the handle of a toothbrush and said head being of an enlarged cross-section for ac commodating the bristle-equipped head of a toothbrush, the sidewall of said head remote from the tubular portion being formed with slot mean-s extending therearound an openable cover telescoped on said head, and closure means on the other end of the tubular portion and comprising a disc adapted to engage the other end of the tubular portion, a reduced diameter skirt fixed to the disc and frictionally engaging in the tubular portion, and an annular germicidal tablet seated in the skirt, said disc having a central opening registered with the opening of the tablet.

5. A self-sterilizing toothbrush container according to claim 4, wherein a pair of diametrically opposed fingers is fixed to the disc around the opening thereof, said fingers and said skirt defining an annular seat for the tablet.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 615,357 12/98 Johnson 20615.1 1,107,280 8/14 Fouyer 206-451 1,364,557 1/21 Hurley 20615.1 2,366,876 1/45 Ross 206l5.l

FOREIGN PATENTS 458,500 12/36 Great Britain.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SELF-STERILIZING TOOTHBRUSH CONTAINER COMPRISING A TUBULAR PORTION, ONE SIDE OF THE SIDEWALL AT ONE END OF SAID TUBULAR PORTION BEING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY OFFSET RELATIVE TO THE TUBULAR PORTION SO AS TO DEFINE A HEAD WIDER THAN THE TUBULAR PORTION, SAID TUBULAR PORTION BEING OF A DIAMETER TO ACCOMMODATE THE HANDLE OF A TOOTHBRUSH AND SAID HEAD BEING OF AN ENLARGED CROSS-SECTION FOR ACCOMMODATING THE BRISTLE-EQUIPPED HEAD OF A TOOTHBRUSH, THE SIDEWALL OF SAID HEAT REMOTE FROM THE TUBULAR PORTION BEING FORMED WITH SLOT MEANS EXTENDING THEREAROUND, AN OPERABLE COVER TELESCOPED ON SAID HEAD, APERTURED CLOSURE MEANS ON THE OTHER END OF THE TUBULAR PORTION, 